Modified skate board to provide stopping action

ABSTRACT

An exerciser is disclosed which includes a top board for engagement by the foot, the board having therebelow a centrally disposed longitudinally movable roller to provide a foot and end rollers to provide control: the board can be moved forward, stopped, steered and maneuvered by the flexing of the ankles of the user.

United States Patent 3.512.798 5/1970 Siege] 280/87.04A 1,594,479 8/1926 Swofford 272/57 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,419,408 10/ l 965 France 272/60 1,215,053 4/1960 France 280/87.04A

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerRichard Dror Attorney-Zachary T. Wobensmith, 2nd

ABSTRACT: An exerciser is disclosed which includes a top board for engagement by the foot, the board having therebelow a centrally disposed longitudinally movable roller to provide a foot and end rollers to provide control: the board can be moved forward, stopped, steered and maneuvered by the flexing of the ankles of the user.

[72] Inventor William J. Smith 515 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford, Pa. 19086 [21] Appl. No. 4,320 [22] Filed Jan. 20, 1970 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [54] MODIFIED SKATE BOARD TO PROVIDE STOPPING ACTION 1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 280/87.04 A, 272/60 [51] Int. Cl A63b 23/04 Field 01 Search 272/1, 57 A, 57 B, 280/8704 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,829,892 4/1958 Ludwig 272/57 PATENTEU 05:28 m1- 8.630.540

Hag f /02 may /03 Z /05 INVENTOR WILLIAM J. SMITH ATTORNEY MODIFIED SKATE BOARD TO PROVIDE STOPPING ACTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an exerciser of the skate board type.

2. Description of the Prior Art Skate boards are a common object used by children and others for forward riding motion, all of the skate boards in use contemplate balancing sidewise on the board with one foot and pushing with the other foot to maintain forward motion. The skate boards in use generally are composed of a longitudinally spaced set of rollers fastened to a rigid board. The board is often provided with a vertically extending handle for board directional control. The exerciser of the present invention provides balancing both transversely and longitudinally, forward movement with additional flexing action, precise stopping and directional control, all qualities lacking in the prior skate board designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An exerciser of the skate board type is provided that includes a top board member which optionally may have an upright handle and which has at least one roller on the bottom thereof with provisions for precise stopping and for flexing of the foot and ankle.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser that has a vertical flexural action and is also capable of forward movement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercise for the foot and ankle that is simple to construct but sturdy and reliable in operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser for the foot and ankle that is capable of positive stopping' and directional control.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser of the character aforesaid that can be used by persons of all ages.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective of one embodiment of the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the exerciser shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing still another embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings and FIGS. 1 to 4 thereof one embodiment of the invention is therein illustrated which includes an upper rectangular board 10, preferably made of wood but which can be fabricated of any other suitable material. The board 10 in a specific embodiment of the exerciser shown in FIG. 1 can have a length of 3 feet, a width of 6 inches and a thickness of l inch and provides a support for 1 foot of the user balanced thereon.

The board 10 has two sets of rollers 12a and 12b carried by shafts I3 joumaled in brackets 14 secured to board 10 by screws 15, one set 12a at the front and one set 12b at the rear.

The board 10, between the rollers 12a and 12b, has a centrally located guide rail 16 held thereto by screws 17 and constructed of a flexible wear-resistant material such as spring steel.

The guide rail 16 has a pair of rollers 20 centered thereon restrained from transverse movement and which are held together in spaced relation by shaft 21. The rollers 20 are movable along the rail 16 but bear on the underside of board 10 and provide a support substantially the width of the board 10. The rollers 20 have a coil spring 22 between them bearing against shaft 21 and fastened to the board 10 outside the ends of rail 16 by screws 23.

The rollers 20 are of greater diameter than the rollers 12a and 12b, are held to the board 10 by spring 22, and permit forward or rearward balancing or tilting movement of board 10 and vertical pivotal movement to engage rollers 12a or 12b to impede forward movement and provide a vertical flexing action. The spring 22 apart from the action of the rollers 12a and 12b exerts balancing action upon relative longitudinal movement of the roller 20 along the bottom of the board 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the foot exerciser is shown which includes a top board also of rectangular shape. The board 100 has a pair of rollers 101 beneath it and longitudinally centrally located and carried by a shaft 102 journaled in a bracket 103. The bracket I03 extends between the rollers 101 and is carried on a flexible rod 105 which extends centrally along board 100 and is secured at each end by holders 106 and screws 107 to the board 100. The bracket 103 is free to slide along rod 105 in order to obtain a pivotal tipping of the board 100 and obtain the desired foot and ankle-flexing action.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of the exerciser is shown which includes a top board 200 of rectangular shape and having a guide rail 201 below the board extending centrally longitudinally therealong and fastened at each end by screws 203.

A pair of rollers 205 are mounted beneath the board 200 on a shaft 206 with spacer 202 therebetween which shaft is carried in a yoke 207. The yoke 207 extends vertically over the sides of board 200 and then horizontally over the top. The yoke 207 is of U-shape in cross section'and provided with two sets of wheels 208 carried by shafts 209 in yoke 207, and in bearing relation with the top of board 200.

An upright handle 210 is secured to the yoke 207 by any suitable means such as welding and the handle can be used for directional control of the exerciser and for tipping for flexing and for stopping.

The various embodiments of the invention permit of forward movement with the foot supported on the board 10, 100 or 200, with tilting forwardly and rearwardly about the support intermediate the ends of the boards.

It will thus be seen that apparatus has been provided with which the objects of the invention are attained.

Iclaim:

1. An exerciser which comprises a top board for engagement by the foot,

central supporting means for said board intermediate the ends of the board for permitting forward and rearward tilting of the board,

said means comprising at least one set of rollers longitudinally movable in guided relation to said board, and means for controlling the longitudinal movement of said rollers with respect to the board,

said roller being carried on a bracket longitudinally movable on said board, and

said bracket being slidably carried on a rod extending longitudinally on the bottom of the board.

t i i i 

1. An exerciser which comprises a top board for engagement by the foot, central supporting means for said board intermediate the ends of the board for permitting forward and rearward tilting of the board, said means comprising at least one set of rollers longItudinally movable in guided relation to said board, and means for controlling the longitudinal movement of said rollers with respect to the board, said roller being carried on a bracket longitudinally movable on said board, and said bracket being slidably carried on a rod extending longitudinally on the bottom of the board. 